Monaghan County Council & Monaghan Tidy Towns & Residents Associations Network Resource Handbook April 2008 Monaghan County Council www.monaghan.ie Monaghan County Council & Monaghan Tidy Towns & Residents Associations Network Resource Handbook April 2008 Contents Introduction: ...................................................................................................................... 3 Welcome ............................................................................................................................ 3 II. Purpose of this Handbook ...................................................................................................... 4 1. About County Monaghan Tidy Towns & Residents Associations’ Network .......... 5 1.1 Who we are .................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 What is Networking? .................................................................................................................. 6 1.2 What we Do .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Work to Date ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.4 Why Join? ...................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Developing your Tidy Towns Group .......................................................................... 11 2.1 Group Structure .......................................................................................................................... 12 Legal Structure ............................................................................................................................ 12 Estate Management Company .............................................................................................. 12 2.2 Insurance ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Insurance for Ride-On Lawnmowers .................................................................................... 12 Insurance for Specific Projects ................................................................................................ 12 Insurance Brokers ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 Group Development .................................................................................................................. 16 Where can we get help? .......................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Volunteers ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Finding Volunteers ...................................................................................................................... 16 Spreading the Work .................................................................................................................... 12 Motivating the Team .................................................................................................................. 18 Building Linkages ........................................................................................................................ 18 3.4 Health & Safety .......................................................................................................... 19 Accidents & Incidents ................................................................................................................ 20 Risk Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 20 SAFE WORK PRACTICES ............................................................................................................ 22 4. Monaghan County Council Resources ...................................................................... 23 4.1 Monaghan County Council Initiatives & Supports .......................................................... 24 4.2 Monaghan County Council Services .................................................................................. 27 5. Other Resources available to Groups ...................................................................... 31 5.1 NeighbourWood Scheme ........................................................................................................ 32 5.2 CLÁR ................................................................................................................................................ 32 5.3 Funding for the Arts .................................................................................................................. 32 5.4 Conservation Grants .................................................................................................................. 32 5.5 EU cross-border funding .......................................................................................................... 33 5.6 Conservation Volunteers Ireland .......................................................................................... 33 5.7 Irish Seed Savers .......................................................................................................................... 33 5.8 Heritage Council Grants ............................................................................................................ 33 5.9 Garda Community CCTV Scheme .......................................................................................... 33 1 Tidy Towns Network Resource Handbook April 2008 6. The National Tidy Towns Competition ...................................................................... 35 6.1 About the Competition ............................................................................................................ 36 6.2 Why Enter? .................................................................................................................................... 37 6.3 Who can Enter? ............................................................................................................................ 37 6.4 Entering the National Tidy Towns Competition .............................................................. 38 6.5 How to Maximise your Score ................................................................................................ 39 Tips from a National Judge ...................................................................................................... 39 Sample Entry Form .................................................................................................................... 40 7. Dealing with Challenging Issues .............................................................................. 41 7.1 Vandalism & Graffiti .................................................................................................................... 42 7.2 Dereliction ...................................................................................................................................... 42 7.3 Littering .......................................................................................................................................... 43 7.4 Illegal Dumping .......................................................................................................................... 43 7.5 Taking in Charge .......................................................................................................................... 44 7.6. Soiling of Public Roads .............................................................................................................. 54 Ask the Experts ............................................................................................................................ 51 8 Ask the Experts .......................................................................................................... 45 8.1 Incorporating Wildlife into Tidy Towns ................................................................................ 46 8.2 Wildlife Areas: Plants, Birds & Insects .................................................................................... 46 8.3 Weed Control ................................................................................................................................ 47 8.4 Lawns .............................................................................................................................................. 48 8.5 Tree Planting ................................................................................................................................ 48 8.6 Hanging Baskets, tubs and flower beds .............................................................................. 50 8.7 Pruning ............................................................................................................................................ 50 8.8 Composting .................................................................................................................................. 51 Appendix A: Sample 3 Year Tidy Towns Plan - Drum Development Association Appendix B: Carrickmacross’s entry form for the National Tidy Towns competition 2004 Appendix C: Sample Risk Assessment and Accident Report Sheets Appendix D: List of CLÁR Electoral